A party from the British and Irish Lions yesterday visited Maitland and the grave of 1888 Lions captain Bob Seddon.
The Hunter region is one of rugby’s traditional territories, but who are Australia’s oldest rugby clubs, and why are they so few in number?
The Maitland Rugby Club, founded in 1877, claim they are the second oldest rugby club in Australia, following behind Sydney University (1863). Yet the Goulburn club’s website sets out on its history page that it was founded as a club in 1872.
The Parramatta club wears a badge with “1879” prominently displayed, and Randwick say their club began in 1882. The Balmain club, re-established in 2005, and Drummoyne (a merger of Balmain and Glebe in 1919), both lay claim to the Balmain club formed in 1873.
The founding clubs of the NSWRU in 1874 were: Wallaroo, Kings’ School, Newington College, Goulburn, Waratah, Balmain, North Shore, University and Camden College (in Redfern). Clubs were also in existence (per the “Town and Country Journal”) in St Leonards, Bathurst, Mudgee and Maitland.
At its 1880 annual meeting the NSWRU comprised: Albion, All Saints’ College, Carlton, Balmain, Bathurst, Burwood, Glen Head, Goulburn, Grammar School, King’s School, Maitland, Newcastle, Newtown, Newington College, New School, Oaklands, Old King’s, Parramatta, Queanbeyan, Redfern, St Leonards, Tamworth, Toxteth, University, Wallaroo, Wallsend, Waratah, and Woolhara.
All of the rugby clubs outside of the schools and university were membership-based clubs – you could join and play for any club you liked, so long as they would have you.
Each club had their own selection criteria for membership, and while some took on the name of a suburb, it didn’t automatically follow that just because you were a local that you would be accepted. Switching of talented players between clubs each year in Sydney was increasingly common by the mid 1890s.
In 1900 the NSWRU (via the Metropolitan RU) did away with all the Sydney clubs, apart from the University, and established a “district scheme” that divided the city and suburbs following electoral boundaries. This gave us the district clubs and three grades (Balmain, Norths, Wests, Easts, Souths, Newtown and Glebe, followed a few seasons later by boundary adjustment to create Manly, St. George and Sydney).
Dissatisfied that they could no longer play with friends but were being forced to play for the team where they lived and be separated across the different grades, in 1901 a number of newly formed (or perhaps re-formed) clubs established a rebel competition that remained unaffiliated to the NSWRU, and later became the City and Suburban Competition (‘Subbies’).
Determining the order in which clubs were first established really depends upon what criteria one chooses to apply, or not apply. Apart from the Sydney University club, and even putting aside the disruptions caused by wars, there is no club founded in the 19th century that has had a continuous existence ever since.
In most instances the connection is the town or suburb had an earlier rugby club, and that has been assigned by a new club as its own history. Perhaps that is an entirely reasonable approach, and it certainly helps to nurture and celebrate that local history of rugby, instead of letting it vanish or be ignored.
There is no doubt with rugby in Sydney the disconnect caused in 1900 by disbanding all the member-based clubs had its benefits to the growth of the code.
In comparison, such a restructuring never took place in London, where playing and supporting a club could mean any of the now long-famous names of Blackheath, Richmond, Wasps, Harlequins and Saracens, as well as London Scottish and London Welsh.
One can only wonder how much easier it would be to create and market a third tier of rugby in this professional era if alongside the University, Randwick and ‘Balmain’ were now over century-old Sydney clubs from the 1890s such as Wallaroo, Pirates, Wentworth, Redfern and Paddington.
Ladle
Guest
HAC 1891
Mark
Guest
Sean do you know the colours of the old Waratahs or Redfern clubs
NQ Macca
Guest
I can only think of a couple of candidates playing in Queensland. PRE-FEDERATION foundation Clubs that are still active; Wallaroos (Maryborough) founded in 1893 and still playing. The Club played in the Maryborough Rugby Union (1893-1909) and was one of the founding members of the Maryborough Amateur Rugby League in 1910. Since the Fraser Coast Rugby League has now folded they now play in the Bundaberg & District Rugby League. The Wallaroos currently hold 55 "A" Grade Premierships (7 Rugby, 48 League). Past Grammar (Brisbane) - At a meeting of the Old Boys on Thursday 5 March 1891, it was decided to form a Club composed of past members of the Brisbane Grammar School. (ref: Brisbane Courier Saturday 7 March 1891). This Club played in the top grade 1891-1900 & 1905-14, but went into recess during the Electorate Club System & World War 1. Rejoined Club football in 1919 and moved to Rugby League in 1920. Past Grammar played rugby league from 1920 to 1932, but when the B.R.L. adopted the District System and the old Past Grammar Club was rebranded Northern Suburbs District RLFC. (Ref: "Passing of Past Grammars, Brisbane Courier Friday 24 February 1933) Honourable Mentions: South Townsville (Townsville) founded in 1890. The Club played in the Townsville Rugby Union (1890-1913) and was one of the founding members of the Townsville Rugby League in 1914. Souths folded as a Senior Club in about 2002, however they still field junior teams. Wanderers (Gympie) founded in 1891 and folded in 1993. The Club played in the Gympie Rugby Union (1891-1910) and was one of the founding members of the Gympie Rugby League in 1911. The Wanderers merged with Gympie Brothers in 1994 to form Gympie Devils and play in the Sunshine Coast Rugby League competition. Rovers (Maryborough) founded in 1891. The Club played in the Maryborough Rugby Union (1893-1909) and was one of the founding members of the Maryborough Amateur Rugby League in 1910. Rovers folded in about 2002 when the M.R.L. became defunct.
Harry Kimble
Guest
Sean, Thanks for your comments. I still do not agree with you but it is no use continuing it here. Let's put it down to a diference of opinion or different interpretation of events. That's history. I see you were a hooker from Smithfield. I was a hooker from Greystanes. I would like to discuss the history of Rugby if we were to ever meet.
David Shaw
Guest
Thanks Sean great to hear the history of our great game and to find out how wide spread our game is becoming
Sean Fagan
Expert
@ David Shaw. Not specifcally, but we are finding more towns across NSW in the mid/late 1870s had a rugby club, even just to play amongst themselves each Saturday, than was ever imagined. Seems not all felt any particular urgency to affiliate with the NSWRU in Sydney.
David Shaw
Guest
Hi Sean ever heard of the Grenfell Rugby Club , the Pnathers were formed in 1875, not much said about them. Still playing rugby after reforming in 1968 after hard times Dave
p.Tah
Guest
Video on Harvard Rugby club (USA) founded 1872 http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=6ijQXygzNNE
Sean Fagan
Expert
@ Harry Kimble. They weren't amalgamations or mergers in 1900 to create the district clubs. That's where it begins and ends. All the 1899 grade clubs, except Uni, each held a meeting, settled their club's accounts and passed a vote to become extinct. The only pre 1900 clubs that survived were suburban one-team clubs that in 1900 &/or shortly after put themselves in the rebel competition that became Subbies. In early 1900 the NSWRU got a map of Sydney and put lines on it to divide up the metropolis, creating districts. Each district wasn't really a "club" per se but a sub-branch of the NSWRU. It only existed at the whim of the NSWRU, not the club's members. Lineage and ancestry from 1890s clubs can flow thru that, but none of the 1900 district clubs existed in any form before 1900. It's the same silly argument about Newtown in the RL re its founding and who was first to form in 1908. Each club in 1900 under NSWRU and in 1908 under NSWRL was simply an allocated district - being founded first, 2nd, 10th or last made no difference - you couldn't snavel another club's district or players, you couldn't even set your own district boundaries. Both the NSWRU & NSWRL in time took areas from clubs to create new clubs and/or absorb dead ones.
Sean Fagan
Expert
deleted as rhe above post got deleted
Harry Kimble
Guest
Yes Sean, some district clubs that were formed in 1900 did come from amalgamations. I have seen where Norths have claimed to have descended from the Wallaroos. Also Norths original nickname was the "Pirates". So there is a lineage.
Harry Kimble
Guest
Sean Fagan
Expert
For the record, I wasn't doubting the club's founding in 1892. My assertion in the article & in comments since is no club (adult male players) founded in 1800s has been continuous ever since, other than Sydney Uni.
Stellahands
Roar Rookie
Thanks Sean, very good article for discussion points. My interest did reignight when i heard about the Maitland Club on 702 radio on the way back from the Lions game on tuesday night. It is good that the history is there and recorded, i'm sure many a debate can be had and a healthy rivalry exsits between the two clubs now. I played for the Barnes RFC in London and the debate still rages on there. There is an artlice published on thier website about the orogins of the club and the game. http://www.barnesrfc.org/news/barnes---100-not-out--or-ar-926103.html cheers for the article, replies and my renewed interest, hopefully more interest will uncover more information about more clubs.
Stellahands
Roar Rookie
Hunters Hill RUFC has records that show it formed in 1892. The following extract from The Sydney Morning Herald, Friday 27 May 1892, page 6, is the earliest known, documented match report of Hunters Hill Rugby Union football Club. The game itself was played on 24 May – Empire Day – or the then Queens Birthday celebration. St. Ignatius’ College F.C. v Hunter’s Hill F. C. The above match (Rugby rules) was played at Riverview on Queen’s Birthday, and resulted in a win for the collegians by eight points to nil. Owing to the rain during the forenoon the ground was rather slippery. Despite this the match was contested under fairly favourable circumstances. During the first half the ball was mostly continued to the visitors’ goal, scrums being frequent. A free kick was awarded to the collegians, and Davidson failed not to put the ball over the bar. On the ball being kicked off the visitors rallied, and after a good run by Christie, the ball was brought within kicking distance of the locals’ goal; but the collegians, after some very good passing, kicked the ball out of bounds near the visitors’ touch line just before half-time was called. Play being resumed the game became very fast, some good runs being recorded by both sides. A few minutes before time Dynon got possession of the ball and potted a beautiful goal for the college. Davidson, Dynon, and D’Arcy among the backs, Corrigan, O’Brien and Dalton amongst the forwards, played well for the college; whilst Gillies, Jackson, and Christie tried hard to avert defeat.” It is believed the club has been playing continuously since, albeit with only junior sides between 1957-1965. The club has an active Archive Committee and would welcome anyone with information on the club or players around these early times. The Archive Committee can be contacted via the clubs website.
Sean Fagan
Expert
@ Stellahands. There's no doubt the Drummoyne club are the 1919 merger of Balmain & Glebe clubs established in 1900. The Wolves, according to http://www.balmainrugby.com/about-us/club-history/ say "From 1919 – 2004, Balmain did not have it’s own rugby club until a couple of rugby fans over a quiet beer decided to re-establish Balmain Rugby Club". The original Balmain club disbanded in the early 1890s, replaced by many new clubs in the area, such was the growing popularity of the code. The 1900 Balmain district club is not the Balmain club of 1873. The Wolves are, from what I can see, a re-establishing of the 1873 club, who also honour & celebrate the history of rugby in the Balmain district, including the 1900-1914 Balmain club. That probably sounds like a bob each way! The main thing is there are two groups wanting to remember rugby history in Balmain, and while that may involve a friendly squabble, that is far better than having no one or no club(s) interested in the history of rugby in Balmain.
Stellahands
Roar Rookie
by my reading then it would be correct in saying that the Drummoyne Club has the history of the original Balmain Club circa 1900 and not the current newly formed Balmain Muzzeled Wolves of 2005?
Sean Fagan
Expert
@ Michael Bell. That may well be a commonly held view, but it is not backed up by archive records & newspapers. There were many years in the 19th century & into the 1920s where there was a "Parramatta" club (not "Cumberland"), but there were also years where the game (except in King's, schools & juniors) wasn't played at all. There was a "Central Cumberland" club in the mid 1890s, but all other reports thru the 1880s-90s refer to "Parramatta". There are periods in the late 1800s where Parramatta has more than one club, but neither of which are called the Parramatta FC. For example re the break in continuity: The Cumberland Argus, 11 March 1893 The Secretary read the following annual report :— Your Committee have much pleasure in presenting this, the fourth annual report of the Parramatta Football Club. "Fourth" would mean this version of the Parramatta club being founded in 1889. Sydney Morning Herald, 2 April 1889 PARRAMATTA FOOTBALL CLUB. A new football club, consisting of the principal members of the Nomads and Unions, was formed at Parramatta last night. It is to be limited to 20 playing members, and a good 15 is guaranteed. It will be known as the Parramatta Football Club. The Cumberland Argus, 27 February 1924 RUGBY UNION. REVIVAL IN PARRAMATTA. We learn on good authority that an effort is to be made this season to revive the old union game in Parramatta The Western Suburbs seniors are Interesting themselves in the matter, and it is proposed to convene a meeting at an early date. THE GAME IN PARRAMATTA The Cumberland Argus, 22 March 1924 For some years past, the district colours have not been seen on the playing fields of the Union code. The reason is difficult to trace. One would expect the traditions established by former Rugby Unionists for Parramatta, and their and their otherwise noteworthy achievements were sufficient to keep alive for all time enough enthusiasm and pride to never allow the past to be forgotten. Teams and players from Parramatta, in the past, have excelled themselves. If then, why not still? None of the above is to say that Parramatta should not celebrate 1879, all the discussion was about was no club founded in the 1800s, other than Sydney Uni, having continuous existence.
Sean Fagan
Expert
@ Dale. Tremendous isn't it - a promise made by local rugby players in 1888, still being followed today.
Sean Fagan
Expert
@ Jim Boyce. No I wasn't at the Maitland visit. I have used the ARU archives a number of times in doing research & obtaining photos - the staff have always been very helpful. I can't comment on how the archive is staffed or funded as I don't know. I obviously agree it would be wonderful if the game did much more with saving, documenting, collecting & celebrating its history - rugby certainly doesn't have a publicly accessible museum such as found in NZ, England & other codes in Australia. Having a designated person within each club is a tall ask given the nature of all football clubs, of all codes, is to put resources into the now, rather than the past. The latter only happens when there is plenty of funds available. In England the Heritage Lottery Fund issues grants to fund many sports history projects and facilities. There is a recognition that sports bodies & individual clubs can't fund history projects or facilities, apart from the big brands of soccer. We have no such funding model in NSW or Australia, so unless you are big code with a massive tv deal, funding is scarce. That's not to say more interest in the history of the game in Australia could not be taken. I have said many times that just as there is a $ value/income for a popular sport for each year ahead, each year of its past has a $ value too that can be mined. Of course, the further back in time you go, the less material (film, audio, documentation) there is to work with, but nevertheless, it is there & available to be used to not only tell the game's history, but to bring further $ income to the game.